Statistical card comparing machine



Jan. 28, 1941- J. M. M DONNELL STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1959 'T SheetsSheet l INVENTOR JOSEPH M. MCDONNELL BY ATTO NE! 1941- J. M. McDONNE-LL 2,229,983

7 STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed D90. 21, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH M. MC DONNELL BY flhij A'TT RNEY all. 28, 1941 M, MCDONNELL 2,229,983

STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Fi1e d Dec. 21, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG 5 a 605 see FIG. 6

' INVENTOR JOSEPH M. MC DONNELL y/l AT ORNEY Jan. 28, 1941. .J. M. McDONNELL 2,229,983

v STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 193 'r Sheets-Sheet 5 MASTER CARD SENS'NG MASTER CARD MECHANSM MAGAZ'NE l1 MASTER CARD sans. cum.

i MASTER CARD READING RETAINING MECHANISM i n COMPARING MECHANISM MASTERCAR MASTERCARD RECEIVER EJECT MASTER CARD DETAIL CARD COMPARING COMPARING PIN I PIN ASSEMBLY I ASSEMBLY l 425 44s 25 2s a PUNCH DETAIL CARD TRANSLATOR TRANSLA'TOR SET-PIN UPPER BASKET PIN-BOX AND DETAIL emu: PUNCH GAGS MAGAZ|NE I PUNCH CHAM DETAIL CARD szuacmu.

DETAIL CARD SENSING MECHANISM mv ENTOR JOSEPH M. MC DONNELL Patented Jan 28, 1941 UNITED STATES 2,229,983 STATISTICAL CARD COMPARING MACIiINE Joseph M. McDonnell, Baldwin, N. Y., asslgnor to Remington Band 1110., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1939, Serial No. 310,384

Claims.

This invention relates to machines for comparing perforation patterns in different records and particularly to the record sorting means of such machines.

'5 An embodiment of the invention is shown herein as applied to a statistical card comparing machine of the type disclosed in the copending application of Karl J. Braun, S. N. 228,381, filed September 3, 1938, now Patent No. 2,211,094,

to dated August 13, 19%0. Machines of the type shown in said application are employed in accounting or statistical systems in which master records are used in conjunction with detail records. In these systems it is desirable to compare prepunched designative data contained in the detail records with pre-punched designative data contained in the master records, and to control or effect various other operations in connection with such records in accordance with the 20 comparison, or non-comparison, of the prepunched data.

In the machine disclosed in the cited application either of three types of operations can be performed, namely- 1. Record sorting (i. e., to segregate comparing master records from non-comparing master records, and to segregate comparing detail records from non-comparing detail records),

3. Stopping the machine (e. g., to permit the insertion of control records at desired points in the run of compared records).

Each of these operations may be effected selectively' or in combination with either or both of the others upon the sensing of a comparison, or non-comparison, between designative perforation patterns in master and detail records, according to the requirements of a particular accounting or statistical problem. The machine is also provided with variably controllable master and detail record feeding mechanisms whereby any one of a plurality of different types of master and/or detail record feeding may be efiected, according to the quantitative relationship of the master and detail records to be handled in a particular problem, in conjunction with any deing, punching, and. stopping operations. Furthermore, an operation selector mechanism is provided whereby a given machine may be presired combination of the above mentioned sortconditioned, in accordance with the several individual types of record handling problems that may arise in a given accounting or statistical system, to effect selectively any one of a plurality o! the various available combinational 5 operations of record sorting, and/or record punching, and/or machine stopping, and record feeding. In the particular arrangement shown in the cited application, the operation selector mechanism is controlled by an operation selector 10 dial, manually settableto eight positions, whereby a statistical card comparing machine may be arranged to efiect any one of eight of such combinational operations selectively.

The principal object of the present invention .15 is to increase the flexibility of the record sorting means of record comparing machines.

In order to segregate comparing master and detail records from non-comparing master and detail records in the machine disclosed in the 20 cited application, there are provided two receiving pockets for master records and two addi-- tional receiving pockets for detail records. In addition, inter-connected deflector mechanisms, operable by a control mechanism in accordance 25 with the sensing of comparisons or non-comparisons between perforation patterns of designative data contained in the master and detail records, are provided for each set of receiving pockets. By these means, comparing detail records are conveyed to a detail record receiver pocket, and non-comparing detail records are conveyed to a detail record eject pocket. Likewise, comparing master records are conveyed to a master record receiver pocket, and non-comparing master records are conveyed to a master record eject pocket. By this arrangement, when the record files handled in a specific accounting or statistical problem comprise comparing and non-comparing detail records, as well as comparing and non-comparing master records, all comparing detail records are segregated from the non-comparing detail records, and all comparing master records are segregated from the non-comparing master records.

However, in problems of this type, it has been found that although it is necessary to segregate the records of either the master file or of the detail file, it is frequently undesirable to segregate the records of both files in the same operation. For example, a given record handling problem may require that a file of master records be compared successively with several separate detail record files, and that the comparing and non-comparing recordsof each detail flle be segregated in preparation for subsequent tabulatinx operations. ditlons, if the comparing and non-comparing master records are segregated during the opera- 1. segregate comparing detail records from non-comparing detail records, and to convey all master records to one receiving pocket,

2. segregate comparing master records from non-comparing master records, and to convey all detail records to one receiving pocket,

3. segregate comparing detail records from non-comparing detail records, as well as to segregate comparing master records from non-comparing master records.

To obtain these results, manually settable means are provided which, when the sorting control mechanism is rendered effective for operation, may be set in either of a plurality of positions to cause selective operation of the deflector mechanism of the master record receiving pockets, or of the deflector mechanism of the detail record receiving pockets, or of the deflector mechanisms of both the master and detail record receiving pockts, in accordance with the sensing of comparisons, or non-comparisons, between perforation patterns of designative data contained in the master and detail records.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 1A, considered together, comprise a left side elevation of the invention, partly in section, in com'unction with the elements of a statistical card comparing machine that cooperate therewith, showing the relative positions of the several elements when the machine is in normal or stopping position;

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the invention in conjunction with the deflector mechanisms of the master and detail card receiving pockets, showing the relative positions of the several elements at the end of a cycle following the sensing of a comparison;

Fig. 2A is a rear elevation slightly enlarged, taken along the line AA of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the relative positions of the operation selector dial and the sorting control lever;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the control device actuating mechanism, showing the parts in the position attained at the end of a cycle-in which a comparison is sensed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the inner ratchet of the control device actuating mechanism;

Fig 6 is an enlarged view of the outer ratchet of the control device actuating mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of the principal elements of a statistical card comparing machine Under these conchine, reference may be had to the cited application.

Statistical card comparing machine-Basie mechanism In a machine of the type disclosed in the cited application, detail cards are placed in a detail card magazine I10 (see Fig. 7) and are passed seriatlm to suitable feed rolls whereby they are conveyed, first, to the detail card sensing chamber in which their perforated data is analyzed, then, in the following cycle, to a punch chamber in which additional data may be perforated in the cards. In the next cycle, the detail cards are conveyed from the punch chamber to a "receiver" pocket 21 or, in the event the sorting control mechanism hereinafter described is effective, they are conveyed either to the receiver" pocket or to an eject pocket 28', depending on the setting of the sorting control mechanism and the character of the designative data in the cards. During the period in which a detail card is held in the detail card sensing chamber, the perforation pattern therein is analyzed by sensing pins mounted in a reciprocating pin box of the detail card sensing mechanism whereby a mechanical representation of such perforation pattern is transmitted, by. means of pins in an upper pin box and translator wires in a translator 255, to the detail card comparing pin assembly 445 of the comparing mechanism.

Master cards are placed in a master card magazine 290 and are passed seriatim to suitable feed rolls whereby they are conveyed to the master card sensing chamber in which their perforated data is analyzed. In the following cycle, the master cards are conveyed to a receiver pocket 25 or,v in the event the sorting control mechanism hereinafter described is effective, they are conveyed either to the receiver pocket or to an eject pocket 26, depending on the setting of the sorting control mechanism and the character of the designative data in the cards. During the period in which a master card is held in the master card sensing chamber, the perforation pattern contained therein is analyzed by sensing pins mounted in a reciprocating pin box of the master card sensing mechanism whereby a mechanical representation of such perforation pattern is transmitted to pins in a master card reading retaining mechanism wherein it is retained, by suitable locking mechanism, until a new master card is sensed. The movement of the pins in the reading retaining mechanism is transmitted directly to the master card comparing pin assembly 525 of the comparing mechanism.

Comparing mechanism In the comparing mechanism the mechanical representations of master and detail card perforation patterns are mechanically compared and the occurrence of a comparison, or non-comparison, between such perforation patterns is utilized to control or vary machine operations. A knowledge of the specific construction of the comparing mechanism is not essential to an understanding of the present invention, but may be obtained from the cited application. Insofar as the present invention is concerned, it is suflicient to understand that the movement of the. pins in the master and detail card comparing pin assemblies 426 and 445 (Fig. '1), in accordance with the perforation patterns in master and detail cards, is effective to determine the position of certain comparing slides 410 (partially illustrated in Fig. 1), one of which is provided for each column of a record card. Abutting each slide 410 is a manually settable interponent 416 which,

when that column isto beused for comparing purposes, is set in its upper or eflective position, as in Fig. l. The construction and arrangement of the comparing mechanism is such that in the event the compared perforation patterns are identical, the slides 416 are free to move to the left to permit leftward movement of a comparing slide sensing bail rod 640 as in Fig. 1. However,

if either pattern contains a perforation for which there is no counterpart in the other. one or more of the slides 410 is blocked and, together with its associated interponent' 416, serves to prevent the leftward movement of bail rod 640. The manner in which bail rod 640 is operated to sense the position of comparing slides 410 is described hereinafter under the heading Control device- Actuating mechanism.

Control device as completely disclosed in the cited application, each of the mechanisms for effecting or varying machine functions such as card feeding, sorting, punching, and stopping the machine, as the result of the sensing of a comparison, or noncomparison, in the perforation patterns of mas- Control deoice--Actuating mechanism Each of the several control cams employed in a machine of this type is secured to a sleeve 600 (Figs. 1, 2, and 4) rotatably mounted on a stud 61H fixed in the frame of the machine. Each of the control cams is arranged to control its associated mechanism in one manner when the perforation patterns in simultaneously sensed master and detail cards compare, and in a different manner when such perforation patterns do not compare. Therefore, the control cams are arranged to be actuated to effect their respective functions whenever a non-comparison is sensed after a cycle in which a comparison was sensed and, also, whenever a comparison is sensed after a,cycle in which a non-comparison was sensed. To effect the requisite movement of the control cams, an actuating mechanism, operable under control of the comparing mechanism, is provided to cause recurrent step-by-step movement of sleeve 600. This mechanism comprises an inner ratchet 605 (see Fig. 5) and an outer ratchet H5 (see Fig. 6) each provided with four equally spaced teeth 606 and 616, respectively, and having blank spaces, equivalent to a tooth space, between adjacent teeth. Both ratchets are fast to sleeve 600 (see Fig. v4) but are offset relative to each other so that teeth 616 of ratchet 6l5 are intermediate to teeth 606 of ratchet 605 whereby, in effect, they form an eight toothed ratchet. Coacting with ratchet 605 is an actuat ing pawl 608, urged clockwise by a light spring (not shown), carried'by the horizontal arm of a lever 6"] which is pivoted on a frame stud 6H and is urged counter-clockwise by a spring (not shown). Coacting with ratchet 615 is an actuating pawl 6l6, urged clockwise by a spring BIS, carried by a lever 620 which is also pivoted on stud 6H and is urged counter-clockwise by a spring 622. The arrangement of ratchets 605, BIS and pawls 600, 618 is such that during machine cycles following those in which a comparisori was sensed, pawl 608 registers with a blank space on ratchet 605, whereas pawl H8 is in position to register with a tooth M6 on ratchet 6I5. However, when levers 6l0 and 620 are in their lowermost positions, a stud 623 on pawl 608 coacts with a cam surface 624 on pawl 6I8, whereby pawl 6|8 is moved counter-clockwise against the tension of spring M9 to prevent the engagement of the pawl with a tooth 616.

For operating pawls 608 and 6H8, an offset push rod 625, provided at its upper end with an abutment 626 arranged tocoact with levers 6H] and 620, is connected to an arm 621 pivoted at 620 and provided with a follower roller 629 that coacts with a cam 630, keyed to a cam shaft 40 that makes one revolution during each machine cycle. The arrangement of cam 630 is such that levers Eli! and 620 are held in their uppermost position by push rod 625 and abutment 626 during the greater part of each cycle but 'are urged downwardly by their springs at approximately 30 before the end of the cycle, and reach their lowermost positions at the end of the cycle. During the early part of each cycle push rod 625 is elevated and, in the event either pawl 608 or 618 has engaged a tooth 606 or 6H5, respectively, is effective to actuate sleeve 600 through oneeighth of a revolution. However, in the event pawls 608 or 6i8 are not engaged with ratchets 605 or 615, respectively, levers Bill and 620 are operated idly and no movement is imparted to sleeve 606. pivoted at 632 and having a roller 636 arranged to coact with a detent plate 635 fast on sleeve 600, is provided to center sleeve 600 in each of its several positions.

In order to effect an actuation of sleeve 60!! whenever there is a non-comparison between master and detail card perforation patterns in a cycle following one in which a comparison was sensed, and ,vice versa, means are provided to sense the position of comparing slides 410 of the comparing mechanism during each cycle and to control actuating pawls 605 and M5 accordingly. For this purpose, an offset vertical link 636 is joined by a pin-in-slot connection to lever 620 and is connected at its upper end to the horizontal arm of a bell-crank 631 pivotally mounted on a transverse rock shaft 630. Secured to shaft 638 are two arms 639 supporting a bail rod 640 which is adapted to sense the position of comparing slides 410 through manually settable interponents 416 which are set in effective position, as shown in the drawings, in the columns containing the designative data.

A spring urged detent arm 6M,

Also fast on rock shaft 638 is an oblique arm 641 which is spring urged into engagement with a limit stud 642 on the pendant arm of bellcrank 631, and is provided with a cutaway shoulder 644 arranged to engage a latch face 645 on an upwardly extending arm of lever 618. The entire assembly comprising shaft 638, bell-crank 631, arms 639 and 641 is urged counter-clockwise by a comparatively strong spring 643 extended between the horizontal arm of the bell-crank and a frame stud.

At the beginning of each cycle cam 638 elevates push rod 625 and, through lever 628, link 636, bell-crank 631, and arm 641, rocks shaft 638 clockwise to move bail rod 648 out of engagement with interponents 416. Toward the end of each cycle, shortly after comparing slides 418 are positioned, follower roller 626 rides into the low dwell of cam 638 thereby lowering lever 628 and link 636, and permitting spring 643 to urge bell-crank 631 and shaft 638 counter-clockwise. In the event all comparing slides 418 in the columns containing designative data are free to move leftwardly, as in the case when the compared perforation patterns in master and detail cards are identical, bail rod 648 is free to move leftwardly whereby shaft 636 rocks counterclockwise and withdraws shoulder 644 on arm 641 from the path of movement of latch face 645 as lever 618 is rocked counter-clockwise, In this case, when levers 618 and 628 rock to their lowermost positions, pawl 688 rides on a blank space of ratchet 685, and stud 623 coacts with cam face 624 to prevent the engagement of pawl 618 with ratchet 615. Thus, when a cycle in which a comparison is sensed follows a cycle in which a comparison was sensed, no movement is imparted to sleeve 688, and they control cams thereon function in the same manner as in the preceding cycle. However, in the event one, or more, of the comparing slides 418 is held in its extreme rightward position when shaft 638 is urged counter-clockwise, as in the case when the perforation patterns in master and detail cards are not identical, bail rod 648 is prevented from moving leftwardly. Shaft 636 is thereby held in rocked position and retains shoulder 644 on am 641 in the path of movement of latch face 645. In this case, lever 618 is held in its uppermost position as lever 628 descends. Thus, stud 623 is ineffective to prevent the engagement of pawl 618, and spring 6i9 engages pawl 618 with a tooth 616 on ratchet 615 when lever 628 reaches its lowermost position. Immediately thereafter, push rod 625 is again elevated to actuate lever 628 and pawl 618 which, in turn, actuate sleeve 688. Thus, when a cycle in which a non-comparison is sensed follows a cycle in which a comparison was sensed, sleeve 688 is rotated through one step by lever 628, and

.the control cams thereon are positioned to control their associated mechanisms accordingly.

In the event another non-comparison is sensed at the end of the succeeding cycle, lever 618 is retained in its uppermost position, as above. In this case, since pawl 618 is now in register with a blank space on ratchet 615, lever 628 moves idly and no further movement is imparted to sleeve 688. This condition is maintained as long as the perforation patterns in simultaneously sensed master and detail card perforation patterns do not compare. However, when the next comparison is sensed, bail rod 648 and shaft 638 are free to rock counter-clockwise and serve to disengage shoulder 644 from latch face 645 to permit lever 618 to follow push rod 626 downwardly. In this case, since pawl 686 is now in register with a tooth 686 on ratchet 686, the suba non-comparison was sensed, sleeve 688 is rotated through one step by lever 618, and the control cams thereon are positioned to control their associated mechanisms accordingly.

Control device-Card sorting control mechanism In punched card systems involving the comparison between perforation patterns of designative data in master and detail cards, it is frequently desirable that the master cards for which there are corresponding detail cards be segregated from the master cards for which there are no corresponding detail cards, or that the detail cards for which there are corresponding master cards be segregated from the detail cards for which there are no corresponding master cards, or, finally, that both master and detail cards be segregated. To effect these functions in the present machine, master card pocket feed rolls are provided to convey master cards from the ejector rolls of. the master card sensing.

mechanism to the master card receiving pockets, and detail card pocket feed rolls are provided to convey detail cards from the ejector rolls of the detail card punch mechanism to the detail card receiving pockets. Furthermore, separate defiector mechanisms, operable in accordance with the action of the comparing mechanism, are provided for each set of card pocket feed rolls whereby comparing detail and master cards may be passed to their respective "receiver pockets, and non-comparing detail and master cards may be passed to their respective ject" pockets, or vice versa, as desired.

A. Receiving pocket feed roll mechanisms Referring to Fig. 1A, the master card receiving pocket feed rolls are arranged in suitable castings 661 supported by brackets 662 secured to the frame of the machine. After leaving the master card sensing mechanism, master cards are passed by ejector rolls 125 over a table plate 663, supported by a cross bar 664, to feed rolls 665 mounted on a transverse shaft 666 journaled in the side castings 661. From feed rolls 665, the cards may be deflected into an eject pocket 26, as hereinafter described, or may be fed over a second set of feed rolls 661, mounted on a transverse shaft 668 also journaled in side castings 661, into a "receiver pocket 25. For rotating feed rolls 665 and 661, a gear 669 is fixed to lower ejector roll shaft 126 and serves, through an idler 618, to drive a gear 611 fixed on feed roll shaft 666, which, in turn, through a. second idler cross rod 611. Skid rolls 614 are urged against their respective feed rolls 665 and 661 by springs 618 extended from the right ends of levers 616.

The detail card feed roll mechanism is arranged, in the same manner, to convey detail cards from ejector rolls of the detail card punch mechanism either to an eject pocket 28 or to a receiver pocket 21. similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts.

Therefore,

B. Master card deflector mechanism For guiding master cards into "receiver? pocket 25 or eject pocket 26, a card deflector 699 (see Figs. 1A and 2) is arranged between master card pocket feed rolls 665 and 661 and is fixed on a transverse rock shaft 68I journaled in side castings 66 l. Card deflector 680 is arranged to occupy either of two positions, namely, a horizontal or closed position, as shown in the drawings, in which it serves to guide cards from rolls 666 to rolls 661 from whence they are passed to "receiver pocket 2 6, or an inclined or open position in which it serves to deflect cards passed from rolls 666 into "eject" pocket 26. Deflector 699. is normally urged to its horizontal position by a spring 92!! extended between a frame stud and the upwardly extending arm of a bell-crank 92i, fixed on shaft 6, whereby, in the absence of further control, all master cards are guided to receiver pocket 25.

In order to control the position of deflector 666 in accordance with the action of the comparing mechanism, the horizontal arm of bellcrank 92! is connected by a link 922 (see also Fig. 1) to an arm 923 fast on arock shaft 686 iournaled in a suitable bracket on the framed the machine. Fixed to the end of shaft 686 is a vertical arm 924 (see also Fig. 2A) havinga working face 925 that lies in the path of movement of a pin 926, fixed in the end of a horizontal link 921. Link 921 is connected to the pendant arm of abell-crank 1B2 pivoted at 183, to a lever I94 pivotally mounted on frame stud 662. The horizontal arm of bell-crank 192 carries a roller 'i8l adapted to coact with a card sorting control cam 190 that is keyed to sleeve 696 of the control device. The arrangement of this linkage is such that when cam 196 is to berenderedeifective to control card sorting, lever 'lt l is rocked clockwise, as hereinafter described, to elevate pivot I63 and move roller 18! into operative relationship with cam I96. Thus, when a non-comparison is sensed, sleeve 609 is actuated by cam 639, as described above, to place the adjacent high dwell of cam T60 in register with roller 'IBI. Bell-crank 182 is thereby rocked counterclockwise and, through link 921, pin 92B, and arm 924, rocks shaft 685 clockwise whereby link 922 is elevated to rock deflector 686 to its inclined position. As described in the cited application, the actuation of sleeve 669 which serves to rock deflector 689 is effected in the early part of the cycle following that in which the noncomparison is sensed. Thus, deflector 699 is held open during the greater part of the following cycle, and serves to deflect the non-comparing master card, which is passed from the master card sensing chamber during the mid-portion of this cycle, into' eject pocket 26. In the event the succeeding master card also contains a noncomparing perforation pattern, no further movement is imparted to sleeve 606 and the succeeding non-comparing master card is also passed to eject pocket 26. However, if the succeeding master card contains a comparing perforation pattern, sleeve 69!! is again actuated as described above, to place a low dwell of cam 196 in register with roller 'I9I- whereby deflector 689 is restored to its horizontal position by spring 929, at the beginning of the succeeding cycle, to guide the comparing master card to receiver pocket 25.

C. Detail card deflector mechanism In order to segregate detail cards in a similar manner, a detail card deflector 690 (see Figs. 1A and 2) is arranged between detail card pocket feed rolls 665 and 661, and is fixed to a transverse rock shaft 69i journaled in side castings 66l. Fixed to the end of rock shaft 69l is a bell-crank 930 having a pin in its pendant arm that extends into a slot in a horizontal link 694. Bell-crank 939 is urged counter-clockwise, to urge deflector 696 to its inclined position, by a spring 693, extended between the pin on the bell-crank and a pin on link 694, but is retained in the position shown in Figs. 1A and 2 by a latch plate 931, pivoted at 932 and provided with a notched shoulder arranged to engage a hook on the horizontal arm of the bell-crank. In order to control the position of deflector 699 in accordance with the action of the comparing mechanism, latch plate 95 is joined by a pin-in-slot connection, and a light spring 933, to a link 934 (see also Fig. l) which is connected to an arm 935, fixed on a sleeve 936 (see also Fig. 2A) that is rotatably mounted on rock shaft 685. Also fixed to sleeve 936 is a vertical arm 931 having a working face 936 that lies in the path of movement .of pin 926. With this arrangement, when a non-comparison is sensed. cam 16!! rocks bell-crank I92 counter-clockwise and, by means of elements 921, 928, 931, 936, and 935, serves to elevate link 934. This movement through spring 933, tendsto rock latch 93! counter-clockwise to release bell-crank 936, and to permit the opening of deflector 696 by spring 693.

However, as heretofore described, all detail cards are passed through the punch mechanism after leaving the detail card sensing mechanism, and require an additional cycle to reach their respective receiving pockets. Therefore, means are provided to prevent the opening of deflector 696 until immediatelyprior to the time that the non-comparing card is released from the punch chamber. For this purpose, spring 693 (see Fig. 2) is made substantially stronger than spring 933 whereby it serves to retain bell-crank 939 engaged with latch plate 93l when link 934 is elevated. Thus, the elevation of link 934 merely serves to tension spring 933. In order to release deflector 696 at the proper time, the right end of link 694 is connected to an offset bell-crank 696 pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 531. Bell-crank 696 is urged counter-clockwise by a strong spring 69'! whereby its follower roller 698 is urged against a cam 699 on a cam shaft 59, which, as described in the application, makes one revolution during each machine cycle. Near the end of the cycle following that in which the noncomparison is sensed, roller 698 rides into the low dwell of cam 699 and permits spring 691 to rock bell-crank 696, counter-clockwise to move link 694 leftwardly. This movement serves to rock bell-crank 936 slightly clockwise to disengage latch plate 93! whereby spring 933 is immediately effective to rock the latch plate counterclockwise out of latching position. Immediately before the end of the cycle, cam 699 rocks bellcrank 696 clockwise to return link 694 to the position shown in the drawings, whereby spring 693 is effective to rock bell-crank 939 and'shaft 69! counter-clockwise to open deflector 699. Thus, at the end of the cycle following that in which the non-comparison is sensed, deflector 690 is opened. During the next cycle, 1. e., during the second cycle following the sensing of the non-comparison, the detail card is passed from the punch chamber, and is deflected into eject P cket 28.

Near the end of this cycle roller 898 again rides into the shallow dwell of cam 698. In this case, since spring 693 has pulled the pin in bell-crank 930 to the right end of the slot in link 684, spring 691 is eifective to close deflector 690, and to rock bell-crank 930 to a position to engage latch plate 98L In the event another non-comparison is sensed, no movement is imparted to cam I80, and latch plate 91- is held in rocked position by spring 933, link 834, etc. In this case, cam 699 is eflective near the end of the cycle, to reopen deflector 590 whereby the succeeding non-comparing detail card is also deflected into eject pocket 28. However, if a comparison is sensed, cam I is actuated one step whereby latch plate 93! is returned to its latching position to engage bell-crank 692. -Deflector 690 is thereby retained in closed position to guide the comparing detail card to receiver pocket 21.

D. Selective control of deflector mechanisms In order to control selectively the sorting of master cards, or detail cards, or master and detail cards concomitantly, the invention provides means manually settable to either of a plurality of positions to cause the operation either of the deflector mechanism of the master card receiving pockets, or of the deflector mechanism of the detail card receiving pockets, or of the deflector mechanisms of the master and detail card receiving pockets concomitantly, in accordance with the sensing. of comparisons or non-comparisons between perforation patterns of deslgnative data contained in master and detail cards. For this purpose, a sorting control lever 800 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3), the handle of which extends through a slot in the frame of the machine, is fixed to a hub rotatably mounted on a frame stud 902. The

other end of lever 900 is in the form of a detent plate having notches that cooperate with a detent roller 803 on a spring-urged detent arm 904. Also, flxed to hub SM is an arm 806 having a pin 901 that extends into an open slot in a lever 908 that is pivotally mounted on a frame stud 909. Connected to the left end of lever 908 is a pendant link 9I0 which is connected at its lower end to link 921 by pin 928. By this arrangement, lever 800 may be set in either an upper position U, an intermediate position I, or a lower position L, as denoted on an indicator pla"e 905 (see Fig. 3), whereby pin 926 is correspondingly positioned relative to the working faces 925 and 938 on arms 924 and 931, respectively, of the master and detail card deflector mechanisms. Working faces 925 and 930 are so proportioned (see also Fig. 2A) that when pin 926 is in its upper position, it is in horizontal alignment only with face 925. In its lower position, pin 926 is in horizontal alignment only with face 938. In its intermediate position, pin 826 is in horizontal alignment with both working faces 925 and 838. By this means, when lever 900 is set in its upper position, only the master card deflector 680 is controlled in accordance with the action of the comparing mechanism, whereby the comparing master cards are conveyed to master card receiver pocket 25, and the non-comparing mastercards are deflected to master card eject pocket 26. In this setting, since deflector 690 is not operated, all detail cards are conveyed to detail card recelver" pocket 21. When lever 900 is set in its lower position, only the detail card deflector 690 is controlled in accordance with the action of the comparing mechanism, whereby the comparing detail cards are conveyed to detail card receiver pocket-21, and the non-comparing detail cards are deflected to detail card eject pocket 28. In this setting, since deflector $80 is not operated, all master cards are conveyed to master card receiver pocket 25. when lever 800 is set in its. intermediate position, both deflectors 680 and 690 are controlled by the comparing mechanism, whereby comparing and noncomparing master cards, as well as comparlng and non-comparing detail cards, are conveyed to their respective receiver and ejec pockets.

Thus, when cam I80 is rendered efl'ective to control card sorting, lever 900 may be set in accordance with the requirements of a given card handling problem to cause the sorting ofv master cards only, or of detail cards only, or of master cards and detail cards concomitantly.

Control device-Operation selector mechanism In order to render sorting control cam I80 effective, means corresponding to those disclosed inthe cited application are provided to select this cam for operation. For this purpose, a cam lug I81 (Figs. 1 and 2) may be placed in any desired position ona disc I88 which is secured to sleeve I02 of the operation selector mechanism. Then, when operation selector dial is rotated to a position to place 9. lug I81 in register with a roller I86, carried on the right end of lever I84, lever 184 is rmked clockwise to elevate pivot I83 whereby roller I8I is moved into operative relationship with cam I80 to render the cam efiective for controlling card sorting operations.

Combinational card handling operations As described in the cited application, sorting control cam I80 may be provided with a. second key-way, oiiset 45 from that shown in the drawings, whereby a high dwell of the cam is placed in register with roller IBI when a. comparison is sensed, and a low dwell oi the cam is placed in register with roller 18l when a non-comparlson is sensed. When. cam I80 is set on sleeve 600 in this position it controls sorting operations conversely to the manner describedabove, 1. e., it causes all comparing master and detail cards to be gu ded to their respective "eject pockets, and causes all non-comparlng detail and master cards to be guided to theirrespective receiver" pockets. The utility of this arrangement is apparent when it is considered that one type of punched card system may require all the comparing detail and/or master cards for a subsequent operation, whereas another type of punched card system may require all the noncomparing detail and/or master cards for a subsequent operation. In each case the machine may be arranged to pass the desired set, or sets, of cards to the receiver pockets, merely by shifting the starting position of cam I80. This feature substantially decreases the possibility of error on the part of the operator when the desired sets of cards are collected.

Obviously, card sorting" control cam may also be offset relative to sleeve 600 when used in conjunction with the present invention. In this case, when lever 900 is set in its upper position, the non-comparlng master cards are conveyed to master card receiver pocket 25, and the comparing master cards are deflected to master card "eject pocket 26. In this setting, all detail cards are conveyed to detail card "receiver pocket 21. When lever 900 is set in its lower position, the

non-comparlng detail cards are conveyed to detail card receiver pocket 21, and the comparing detail cards are deflected to detail card eject pocket 28. In this setting, all master cards are conveyed to master card receiver pocket 25. When lever 900 is set in its intermediate position, the non-comparing master and detail cards are conveyed to their respective receiver pockets 25 and 21, and the comparing master and detail cards are deflected to their respective eject pockets 26 and 28. A detailed description of the manner in which these results are attained is deemed unnecessary in view of the foregoing description of the control exercised by cam 180 when set in its normal position, as shown in the drawings.

The manner in which sorting controlcam 180, in' either of its settings, may be selected for operation in conjunction with a punch control cam 'l'lll and/or amachine stopping control cam I60 to obtain different types of card handling operations is completely disclosed in the cited application, and a list of the various combinational operations that may be effected by these cams is graphically illustrated in'Fig. '74 thereof. In the same manner, punch control cam I10 and/or stopping control cam 160 may be selected for operation with sorting control cam I80 in conjunction with themechanism of the present invention to increase the number of different combinational operations that may be obtained. A list of these operations is graphically illustrated in Figs. 8 and 8A. These figures include each of the operations that employ sorting control cam 'ltll, as set forth in Fig. '74 of the cited application, and include the two additional operations that may be obtained, in each case, when lever Will is set in its upper or lower position. For example, operation #1 of Fig. 8 illustrates the type of operation obtained when cam 18!] alone is selected for operation, and lever 900 is set in its intermediate position. This operation, in which both the master and detail card deflector mechanisms are operated in accordance with the action of the comparing mechanism to segregate master and detail cards, corresponds to operation #lof Fig. '74 of the cited application. 0perations #lA and #13 illustrate the types of operation obtained when cam 18!] alone is selected for operation, and lever 900 is set in its upper and lower position, respectively. In operation #lA only the master card deflector mechanism is operated in accordance with the action of the comparing mechanism to segregate the comparing master cards from the non-comparing master cards, whereas in operation #lB only the detail card deflector mechanism is operated to segregate the comparing detail cards from the non-comparing detail cards.

In view of the foregoing,the remainder of the chart is deemed self-explanatory. Operations 2, '7, 8, etc. correspond to the similarly numbered operations on Fig. '74 of the cited application. Operations 2A and 23, 7A and 73, 8A and 83, etc., correspond to operations 2 7, 8, etc. with regard to the selection and positioning of the operation control cams, but differ with regard to the setting of sorting control lever 900, whereby the sorting of master or detail cards is dif ferentially controlled. As in the cited application, the reference characters designating the operation control cams have been enclosed in brackets to indicate that the control cam, in that type of operation, is offset relative to sleeve 600 of the control device.

Each of the operations listed in Figs. 8 and 8A, as in the case of the operations listed on Fig. 74

of the cited application, may be effected in con junction with any one of the card feeding con* trol cams or discs, described in the cited application, in accordance with the quantitative re lationship of master and detail cards in a given card handling problem.

While I have described what I consider to be a highly desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious thatmany changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I, therefore, do not limit my-.

self to the exact form herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention as hereinbefore set forth, and as hereinafter claimed. i

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine for handling masterand detail records, and including a comparing means for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons between perforation patterns is preselected portions of such records, the combination of separate record conveying means for passing master and detail records to respective receiving pockets, deflecting means associated with each of the conveying means, each of said deflecting means being arranged when operated to prevent the passing of records to their respective receiving pockets, means operable under the control of the comparing -means to operate both of said defleeting means when a non-comparison is sensed, and means to dissociate either of said deflecting means from the control of the comparing means selectively.

2. In a machine for handling master and detail records, and including a comparing means for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons between perforation patterns in preselected portions of such records, the combination of separate record conveying means for passing master and detail records to respective receiving pockets, deflecting means associated with each of the conveying means, each of said deflecting means being arranged when operated to prevent the passing of records to their respective receiving pockets, means operable under the control of the comparing means to operate both of said deflecting means when a comparison is sensed, and means to dissociate either of said deflectin means from the control of the comparing means selectively.

3. In a machine for handling master and detail records, and including a comparing means for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons between perforation patterns in preselected portions of such records, the combinaion of separate record conveying means for passing master and detail records to respective receiving pockets, defleeting means associated with each of the conveying means, each of said deflecting means being arranged when operated to prevent the passing of records to their respective receiving pockets, individual operating means for each of the deflectors operable under control of the comparing means when a non-comparison is sensed, and means to place said operating means under control of the comparing means selectively or concomitantly.

in-In amachine for handling master and detail records, and including a comparing means for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons between perforation patterns in preselected portions of such records, the combination of separate record conveying means for passing master and detail records to respective receiving pockets, deflecting means associated with each or the conveying means, each of said deflecting means being arranged when operated to prevent the passing of records to their respective receiving pockets, individual operating means for each of the deflectors operable under control of the comparing means when a comparison is sensed, and means to place said operating means under control 01' the comparing means selectively or concomitantly.

5. In a machine for operating on master and detail records, including a comparing mechanism for sensing comparisons or non-comparisons between perforation patterns in preselected a portions of such records and including means operable under the control of the comparing means from the control of the comparing mechanism selectively.

JOSEPH M. McDONNELL. 

